Dublin councillor proposes art competition for Poolbeg chimneys

Dublin City Councillor Jim O'Callaghan has called on the ESB and Dublin City Council to launch a public art competition for the iconic twin Poolbeg chimneys that are being threatened with demolition.

The proposal will be put forward to Dublin City Council tomorrow.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the ESB may consider knocking the chimneys due to the high cost of maintaining them. Two of the power-generating units beneath them have been switched off for a number of years.

The Poolbeg chimneys are very important part of Dublin's image," O'Callaghan said.

"What we're proposing is that the ESB and Dublin City Council would run a public art competition.

"There are very many imaginative and innovative artists in Dublin and in Ireland who could come up with proposals that would utilise the Poolbeg chimneys for a piece of contemporary art."